Halo Duo: Universal, Fox

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Studios team to make game movie.

By IGN FilmForce

Two Hollywood studios are joining forces with Microsoft to bring Halo to the big screen. Today's Hollywood Reporter broke the news claiming that 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures are in negotiations to presumably split the production costs and divide the distribution rights for a flick based on the smash hit videogame franchise. Universal would release the movie in North America and Fox would handle overseas distribution.

Word of the deal comes just a few days after the script was delivered to studios by messengers dressed as Master Chief. Microsoft had developed the project in-house, hiring 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland to pen the script. They were originally asking for $10 million up-front and a percentage of the film's gross, but that deal was reportedly too much for the studios to stomach. No details on the new deal have been announced. Part of the original deal that may have remained intact is an agreement that the studio adhere to strict guidelines that have been set by the developers.

No directors have been linked to the project since the initial rumored involvement (or disinterest) of filmmaker Ridley Scott. Scott was said to have been approached with the idea of a Halo movie and upon further review said that he "didn't see a world for a story." But this was before Halo 2 was released and made oodles of money (and well before Garland's script was written), so it's possible Mr. Scott has adjusted his perspective. We'll let you know as soon as there are new developments.